While traveling, we often encounter language barriers. Usually, the need to explain that we do not understand or speak the local language to a non-English speaker can be messy. Keeping in mind that how to say "I don't speak the local language" can easily come in handy. Here is a list of words to start you off on that round-the-world journey.

Steps

1

Write these down (or print them out), pop them in your travel bag and rehearse when you get to the relevant country:

2

(Note: If there is a language that is not added, click the edit button to add.)

Afrikaans: Ek praat nie Afrikaans nie

Albanian: Nuk ë flas shqipën OR Unë nuk flas shqip (the "ë" is silent in Kosovo and northern Albania at the end of a word, and pronounced like "uh" everywhere else, both linguistically and geographically; "q" is pronounced "ch", and everything else is pronounced as it is in English)

Hindi: Mein hindi nahee bolta (if you are a boy) or Mein hindi nahee bolti (if you are a girl)or Ham hindi nahee boltay (if you are a group of 2 or more people) - Gender Neutral - Mujhe Hindi nahi aati hai.

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Tips

Learn another language, so that way you don't have to do this again.

Some of the statements can be more accurately said with feeling, especially the Tag-alog one.

It is advisable to practice the line in front of some native speaker before trying it out in public.

Apart from expressing you don't speak the local language, try proposing other languages you might have in common such as English, French or Spanish, this can ease communication in a lot of cases.

Warnings

Don't try experimenting with the languages! You may end up with something completely different.
E.g- If you change the Marathi translation (Mee marathi bolath nahi) to "Mee marathi bolath", it means that you speak Marathi (Although the grammar is totally wrong).